ICE Operation in Los Angeles Nets Criminal Aliens, Sparks Violent Protests

Los Angeles, CA – June 8, 2025 – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a targeted operation in Los Angeles on June 6 and 7, resulting in the arrest of several criminal illegal aliens, including gang members, convicted sex offenders, violent gun offenders, and drug offenders. Federal sources have identified some of the high-profile targets, whose apprehensions have ignited violent protests across the city, highlighting tensions over immigration enforcement policies.

Among those arrested is Rolando Veneracion-Enriquez, a national of the Philippines with a history of serious crimes in California. Court records confirm prior convictions for sexual penetration with a foreign object, assault with intent to commit rape, and burglary. Another detainee, Armando Ordaz, a Mexican national and documented gang member, has convictions in Los Angeles for sexual battery, receiving stolen property, and theft. Victor Mendoza-Aguilar, a previously deported Mexican national and known gang member, was apprehended with convictions for assault with a deadly weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia. Also arrested was Delfino Aguilar Martinez, a Mexican national convicted in Los Angeles of assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury. Federal sources confirm that one of the arrestees has already been deported, though their identity was not specified.

The operation, part of ICE’s broader efforts to prioritize the removal of criminal noncitizens, targeted individuals deemed public safety threats. According to a statement from ICE, the agency focuses on “egregious criminal alien offenders” to bolster community safety and national security. However, the arrests have triggered significant backlash, with violent protests erupting in parts of Los Angeles. Demonstrators, including immigrant rights advocates, clashed with law enforcement, citing concerns over family separations and the targeting of communities in sanctuary cities like Los Angeles. Local authorities, including Mayor Karen Bass, have emphasized that the Los Angeles Police Department did not participate in the ICE operation, adhering to the city’s sanctuary policies.

The protests reflect broader tensions surrounding immigration enforcement under the current administration. Critics argue that such operations disproportionately affect law-abiding immigrants and sow fear in communities, while supporters, including ICE officials, maintain that targeting criminal aliens is essential for public safety. “These individuals have committed serious crimes, from sexual assault to violent assaults, and their removal is a priority,” an ICE spokesperson said, referencing the agency’s mandate to enforce immigration laws.

The operation’s fallout has drawn national attention, with advocacy groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) condemning the lack of transparency regarding the detainees’ whereabouts and legal proceedings. A recent report by The New Yorker highlighted similar concerns in New Mexico, where ICE arrests left families and advocates searching for answers about detainees’ fates. In Los Angeles, community leaders are calling for federal authorities to provide clarity on the detainees’ statuses and ensure due process.

ICE’s Los Angeles field office has defended the operation, noting that it involved collaboration with federal partners, including the FBI, DEA, and ATF, to identify and detain dangerous criminals. The agency encourages the public to report suspicious activity to its tip line at 866-DHS-2-ICE. Meanwhile, the violent protests have prompted increased police presence in affected areas, with local officials urging calm as the situation develops.

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